The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 17) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Komi Republic in Russia and Rural Municipality of Maple Creek No. 111 of Saskatchewan Province in Canada, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with Russia for the import of poultry meat but not for poultry eggs. According to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 50 tonnes and 20 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Russia and Canada respectively in the first six months of this year.

"The CFS has contacted the Russian and Canadian authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.